Feeler mechanism for looms



F. LACEY.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED: Nov. 14. 1919.

Patented Dc. 14,-,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- F. LACEY.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED HOV.14| 1919.

1,3 2,117, Patented Dec. 14,1920.

' Fig.2 49

fl L V 4 x3 I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

FEED LACEY, OF LOWELL, MASSAGH'OSETTS', ASSIGNOR TO DRAPEB CORPORATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.-

FEELER MECHANISM FOR. LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1a, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED LAQEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts have invented an Improvement in Feeler Mechanisms for Looms, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to feeler mechanisms for looms by which the operative condition of the loom is changed or replenishment of filling is efiected'when the filling in the active shuttle becomes substantially .exhausted, and has to do more particularly with that class of feeler mechanisms in which the feeler is given a movement'along' the filling carrier or longitudinally of the shuttle at the critical period.

There are two types of this general class of feeler mechanisms, one in whlch the feeler is given its side-swipe or sliding'movement longitudinally along the filling carrier by a spring or other actuating means when the filling in the shuttle is substantially exhausted on a detectin beat, and the other in which the side 4SW1P8'01' sliding movement of. the feeler along the filling carrier is efiected by the frontward pressure upon the feeler itself. The present invention relates more particularly to the, second of these types, although certain features thereof may be advantageously employed in either.

One of the requisites of a practically successful feeler mechanism is that it shall be sensitive to the detection of either presence or absence of a working supply of filling and when the supply has reached a degree of substantial exhaustion, but prior to complete exhaustion, it shall set in operation a train ofmechanism for effecting the desired change in the operation of the loom, as, for instance, replenishment of filling.

In that type of feeler mechanism where the frontward pressure upon the feeler or finger imparts the side swipe or sliding movement along the filling carrier at the period of substantial exhaustion, the feelerv is either pivotally offset or reaches back-' ward at an angle to the path of the lay and the frontward pressure of asurface within the shuttle against the engaging end of the feeler on a detecting beat tends to lmpart the side swipe or sliding movement of the feeler along the filling carrier. The efiectiveness of this frontward pressure to impart the side swipe or sliding movement to the angularly disposed feeler at the critical mosion acting on the feeler member is too great,

or the angular relation of the feeler to the path of the lay is not sufficiently large. On the other hand, should the feeler respond prematurely to the frontward pressure and move longitudinally along the filling carrier, too much waste may remain upon the ejected filling carriers or bobbins. This undesirable waste may be caused by the feeler being inclined too much to the path of the lay or by the feeler spring being too weak.

On the occurrence of either of these objectionable conditions, it is desirable that the feeler mechanism may be readily adjusted by mechanically unexperienced loom attendants, either to reduce the waste upon the ejected filling carriers or bobbins, or to insure that sufiicient filling remains upon them to lay a properly tensioned last shot with the lay movement with permissive adjustment of the feeler member relative to the of. filling. important feature of the present. invention, therefore, consists of a lay. Another important feature of the invention resides in means for adjusting the tension of. the spring which acts in a line passing feelen, y

'These features of. the inventionare car-' ried into practical effect .in the present instance by mounting the feeler pivotally 'upon a feeler carrier and providing the through the pivotal support of the end-of a spring may connected at difierf feeler'with 9. lug or projection to which one ed at 7 0n the slide 6 is the dog entpoints to thereby determine the feeling position of the feeler relative to the path of the lay movement. The spring is preferably also provided with means for varying its tension.

It is desirable at times to change the position of the feeler relative to the carrier on which it is mounted and another feature of the present invention, therefore, consists in mounting the feeler on the carrier with .capacity for adjustment longitudinally thereof.

The above features of the invention and other novel combinations of parts will hereinafter be described in connection with the accompanying dra-win s which illustrate one good practical form 0 the invention.

In the drawings: a

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the feeler side of the loom, some of the parts being omitted;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing the action ofthe feeler when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the action of the feeler when the filling is substantially exhausted;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fi 2.

lVIounted on the loom frame 1 are the bearings 2, one at each side of the loom frame, for supporting the transverse or rock shaft 3 which may be of usual construction and normally under the influence of a spring v holding it in initial position, as indicated in Fig. 1, the springnot being shown herein because it is of usual and common construction. Rising from the transverse or rock shaft 3 is the arm 4 which reaches rearwardly and at times is adapted to be moved frontwardly by an operating member in order to rock the transverse shaft 3 and efiect replenishment of filling, as will more fully appear.

Mounted on the loom frame is the bracket 5 on which is the slide 6 movable frontwardly and rearwardly on the bracket in suitable guide-ways formed therein. The

arm 4 is connected to the slide 6 for frontward movement thereby. Pivotally mount- 8 having a weight 9 normally tending to t1lt the dog 8 clockwise, viewing Fig. 1. Mounted upon the dog 8 is a finger 10, the lower end .portion of which is normally in the path {of an operating member 11 which moves periodically'toward and from the front of the 100m and is conveniently formed as part of or connected to the weft hammer or cam'ffollower 12, the construction being such that should the lower end of the finger 1t) be in the path of the operating member 11 when it moves frontwardly, the slide 6 will be given its frontward movement and thereby turn the rock shaft 3 for effecting replenishment of filling. The parts sofa-r described are or may be of usual construction and may be modified to suit conditions of use. There are various means for efiecting rocking movement of the transverse or rock shaft 3 when replenishment of fillin is to be effected, and any suitable form of these ma be employed. I

he lay 13 may be of usual construction and .is provided in its front wall with an opening 14 which registers with a corresponding'opening 15 in the adjacent wall of a shuttle 16 when the latter is boxed at the replenishing side of the loom. The shuttle 16 carries the filling carrier or bobbin 17 on which the filling 18 is wound, and as the lay moves frontwardly. on a detecting beat, the present invention contemplates that a feeler member shall enter the shuttle and feel for the filling therein.

Mounted on a suitable bracket 19, attached to the loom frame or the shipper stand 20, is the stud 21 on which is mounted for pivotal movement the feeler. carrier 22. In the present instance of the invention the feeler carrier 22' has a hub portion 23 surrounding the stud 21, and bearing at its lower end upon the surface of the bracket 19. Surrounding the hub 23 is the spring 24, one end of which is connected to the bracket 19 at 25 and the other end to the feeler carrier at 26, the normal. tendency of the spring 24 acting to turn the feeler carrier 22 to carry its end 27 frontwardly and maintain it in the position indicated in Fig. 1. The arm 27 of the feeler carrier has adjustably mounted thereon the block 28 which normally rests under the weighted portion 9 of the dog 8 and maintains the dog in position with the finger 10 in the path of movement of the operating member 11, a post 29 serving to limit the frontward movement of the end 27 of the feeler carrier.

The other arm 30 of the feeler carrier is provided with an elongated slot 31 in which is mounted the feeler for adjustment longitudinally of the feeler carrier. In the present instance of the invention, the feeler 32 is formed integral with or secured to a sleeve 33 mounted upon the pivot stud 34 which passes through the slot 31 of the feeler carrier and is adjustablysecured therein by the nut or othersecuring means 35. To clamp the pivot stud 34 in adjusted position without binding the feeler or the sleeve 33, the stud is provided with a shoulder 36 which rests upon the arm 30 of the feeler carrier, so that by setting up the nut 35 after the feeler has been adjusted longitudinally of the feeler carrier to desired position, the feeler may freely act to perform its feeling function, as will more fully appear. The described means for :adjusting the position of the feeler longitudinally of the other end 43 of the spring 42-is connected to an adjusting means for varying the tension of the spring- In the present instance, the adjusting means is constituted by a threaded pin or bolt 44 which passes loosely through a cap piece 45 surmounting a supporting stud 46 carried by the feeler carrier. Threaded upon the bolt 44 is a. wing ,nut 47 whereby the tension of the spring 42 may be readily varied, as desired. In order to lock the wing nut in position of adjustment, the cap 45 is provided with in clined bearing portions 43 against which rest the correspondingly inclined bearing portions 49 of the wing nut, the construction being such that the frictional engagement of the inclined surfaces under the action of the spring 42 prevents accidental turning of the wing nut under the jarring action of the loom.

The feeler 32, as hereinbefore described, is mounted loosely upon its pivotal support or stud 34, and the spring 42 connected to the feeler through the lug or projection 39 and actin in a line passing through the axis or pivot of the feeler, serves to hold the feeler yieldingly in its feelin position relative to the feeler carrier with permissive movement about its pivot in either direction.

By shifting the connection of the end 41 of the spring 42 from one hole 40 to another formed in the lug 39, the inclined or feeling position of the feeler 32 may be readily changed at will. For instance, as indicated in Fig. 1, the end of the spring is connected to the-rearward opening 40 in the lug 39, and, consequently, the feeler 32 is held in a predetermined inclined position extending rearwardly from the feeler carrier, and by changing the connection of the spring 42 to a frontward hole 40 or to any of the other holes in the lug 39, the inclination of the feeler 32 to the lay movement may be changed at will. This change of connection between the spring 42 and the feeler may be readily effected whenever it is found by an inspection of the ejected bobbins in the receiving cam, that the feeling action of the feeler is not satisfactory.- If too much filling is found on the filling carriers or bobbins in the can, it indicates that the feeler needs adjustment in its angular relation to the lay movement or that the spring 42 needs strengthening, and either of these adjustments may be readily effected by the loom attendant.

When itis desired to adjust the feeler longitudinally of the feeler carrier to prop-.

erly correlate the feeler arm 30 and the feeler, such adjustment is readily effected by manipulation of the nut 35, as hereinbefore explained.

When a Working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat, as indicated in Fig. 2, the toothed end portion 50 of the feeler 32 will engage and sink into the filling, and upon further frontward movement of the lay the feeler carrier will be moved about its pivotal support 21 to remove the end 28 thereof from under the dog 8 and permit the Weight 9 to tilt the dog and'carry the end of the finger 10 out of the path of the operating member 11, as it moves frontwardly. Should, however, the filling be substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, as indicated in Fig. 3, the

frontward pressure of the filling carrier or bobbin upon the feeler will cause the feeler to be turned upon its pivotal mounting, as indicated in Fig. 3, the toothed end portion 50 of the feeler at such time sliding longitudinally along the surface of the filling carrier or bobbin. As the lay moves further frontward, the feeler 32 will .be still further deflected or, it may be that the end 30 of the feeler carrier may be moved slightly frontward, but not sufiicient to remove its end 28 from under the dog. Under the last described conditions, the transverse or rock shaft 3 will be 'turned and filling replenishment effected, as usual in this general class of looms.

By the provision of the sprin 42 which acts upon the feeler through the pivotal axis thereof, and the difi'erent points of connection between the spring and the lug 39, the inclination of the feeler may be readily effected as conditions of weaving require,

and by the wing nut or other suitable form of adjusting means, the tension of the spring may be readily varied. These adjustments are of a nature that they may be made by one not experienced in mechanical matters and may be effected by such person when, upon inspection of the ejected filling carriersyor bobbins in the receiving can, either too much or too little yarn is found as waste on the filling carriers or bobbins. Adjustment of the feeler longitudinally of the feeler carrier is also readily effected by one not experienced in mechanical matters, and the proper positioning of the feeler in its correlation with the other parts. While the clamping nut construction hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 4 forms a convenient means for adjusting the feeler bodily with relation to the feeler carrier, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this particular means since any appropriate form of adjusting devices may be em loyed instead.

laims:

1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler carrier-that is mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom and is displaced frontwardly on a detecting beat, a feeler that is mounted upon the feeler carrier for movement longitudinally of the shuttle and is held from such movement on a detecting beat by en agement with the filling until substantia .exhaustion thereof, a spring adjustably connected to the feeler constructed and arranged to determine the angular relation of the feeler relative to the feeler carrier, and means for adjusting the point of connection of the spring with the feeler for varying the angular relation of the feeler and feeler carrier.

:2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a side slipping feeler adapted to be engaged by the wound mass of filling on a detecting beat, a feeler carrier having a normal displacement stroke toward the front of the loom imparted to it by the filling through the feeler on-a detecting beat until substantial exhaustion of the filling, a spring which constitutes the sole means for determining the angular relation of the feeler and feeler carrier constructed and arranged to permit yielding movement of the feeler in either direction from its normal feeling position, and adjustable connections between the spring and feeler for varying the feeling position of the feeler relative to the carrier. i

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler carrier mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom, a feeler pivotally supported by the feeler carrier for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle by the frontward' pressure of a surface within the shuttle and held from such movement by engagement with the filling on a detecting beat until substantial exhaustion thereof, and a spring which is adjustably connected to the feeler and acts in a line passing throu h the pivot of the feeler for holding it yiel ingly in different inclined feeling positions relative to the feeler carrier.

4. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler carrier mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom, a feeler pivotally supported by the feeler carrier for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle by the frontward pressure of a surface within the shuttle and held from such movement by engagement with the filling on a detecting beat until substantial exhaustion thereof,'and a spring which is connectedto the feeler and constructed and arranged relative thereto to exert a force through the pivotal supportof the feeler and acting as the means for determining the inclination of the feeler relative to the feeler carrier.

5. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler carrier mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom, a feeler pivotally supported by the feeler carrier for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle by the frontward pressure of a surface within the'shuttle and held from such movement by engagement with the filling on a detecting beat until substantial exhaustion thereof, a spring which is connected to the feeler and acts as the sole means for holding it in angular feeling position on its pivotal support, and means for adjusting the tension of the spring and its action on the feeler for varying the sensitiveness of the feeler to the presence or absence of filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat.

6; In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

ment with the filling on a detecting beat 7 until substantial exhaustion thereof, a spring which acts in a line passing through the pivotal axis of the feeler and holds the feeler in inclined position relative to the movement of the lay, and means for changing the position of the connection of the spring with the feeler to change the inclination of the feeler.

7. A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler carrier mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom, a feeler pivotally mounted on the feeler carrier for lateral swinging movement thereon, a spring connected to the feeler and yieldingly holding it in normal feeling position on its pivotal mounting relative to the feeler carrier, with freedom for pivotal movement in either direction from its normal position and means for adjusting the feeler bodily longitudinally of the feelercarrier and transversely of the loom.

8. A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, a pivotally supported feeler carrier, a feeler pivotally mounted on the feeler carrier, a spring acting on the feeler to normally maintain the feeler member rearwardly inclined relative to the feeler carrier constructed and arranged to permit displacement of the feeler in either direction, and means for bodily adjusting the feeler longitudinally along the feeler carrier in a direction transversely of the loom.

feeler carrier mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom, a feeler pivotally supported on the feeler carrier, a spring connected to the feeler and acting in a I line passing through the pivot of the feeler,

andmeans for adjusting the pivot of the feeler along the feeler carrier.

10. In a feeler mechanism for looms, a support, a feeler carrier pivotally mounted on the support for swinging movement toward and from the front of the loom, a feeler, a pivot adjustably supported on the feeler carrier and on which the feeler is mounted to swing, a lug connected to the feeler, a spring acting through the lug to yieldingly hold the feeler in feeling position relative to the'feeler carrier, and connections between the lug and spring arranged to permit the spring to hold the feeler member in different feeling positions relative to the feeler carrier.

11.In a feeler mechanism for looms, a support, a feeler carrier pivotally mounted on the support for swinging movement toward and from the front of the loom, a feeler, a pivot adjustably supported on the feeler carrier and on which the feeler is mountedto swing, a lug connected to the feeler, a spring acting through the lug to yieldingly hold the feeler in feeling position relative to the feeler carrier, connections between the ing and spring arranged to permit the spring to hold the feeler in different feeling positions relative to the feeler carrier, and means for adjusting the tensionof the sprin 12', A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, .lH combination, a feeler carrier mounted for movement toward. and from the front of the loom, a feeler pivotally mounted on the feeler carrier, a lug connected to the feeler, a spring acting through the lug and pivot of the feeler to yieldingly hold the feeler in feeling position relative to the feeler carrier for permissive swinging movement in either direction from normal feeling position, and means for connecting the spring to the lug at different points thereof to vary the feeling position of the feeler relative to the feeler carrier.

13. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler carrier pivotally supported on the loom frame, a feeler pivotally mounted on the feeler carrier, a spring for holding the feeler extending rearwardly in a position inclined to the lay movement and exerting its holding force in a line passing through the pivotal connection of the feeler and feeler carrier, and means for connecting the spring to the feeler at different points circumferentially about the pivot of the feeler to vary the inclination of the feeler relative to the lay movement.

14. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler carrier mounted for swinging movement toward and from the front of the loom, a feeler pivotally mounted on the feeler carrier for movement therewith and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle under the frontward pressure of l a surface within the shuttle on a detecting beat and held from such movement by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, a spring having one end connected to the feeler for holding it in normal feeling position and its other end secured to a point to cause the spring action to extend through the pivotal axis of the feeler, means for shifting the point of connection of the spring with the feeler to vary the inclination of the feeler when in feeling position, and means for adjusting the tension of the spring to vary the sensitiveness of the feeler to the presence or substantial absence of filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRED LAOEY. 

